Spark plug cleaner



Jan. 11, 1949. A. J. BATTEY SPARK PLUG CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1346 :hwc wT A J. BATTEY,

A. J. BATTEY SPARK PLUG CL Jan. 11, 1949.

EANER Filed Aug. 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. J. BATTEY,

Patented Jan. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPARK PLUG CLEANER Alexander J Battey, Skaneateles, N. Y. Application August 26, 1946, Serial No. 692,947

This invention relates to spark plug cleaners, and more particularly to devices of this character employing air under pressure to force a powdered, crushed or granulated abrasive against the spark plug gap elements and upon the inner end of the plug which is exposed to the high temperature of the burning gases within the combustion chamber of an engine, to remove carbon incrusted oil and like deposits of objectionable materials which accumulate when the plug is in use.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a spark plug cleaner including adapters, which are designed to be used with spark plugs of various diameter threads; these adapters with plugs therein being turnable on the top of the casing of the apparatus to variously position the inner end of a spark plug'over a cleaning blast nozzle to more efficiently clean the spark plug.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this type in which both hands of the operator are free to manually control the turning of an adapter with a spark plug therein while controlling the operation of the cleaner by a foot operated valve.

A further object is to supply a spark. plug cleaner in which the top of the casing has a tray to hold the different rubber adapters necessary to clean the different size spark plugs, plugs to be cleaned, and plugs that have been cleaned, to prevent confusing the products with other plugs and materials on the bench where the cleaner may be placed.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of a spark plug cleaner in which my invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the blast nozzle.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a bushing especially designed to hold adapters having either'frustoconical or cylindrical skirts.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of the bushing taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diametrical vertical sectional view of an adapter having a frusto-conical skirt and designed for use with spark plugs where it is 4 Claims. (Cl. 51-8) desired to have the abrasive blast farther from the axis of the plug or in spark plugs of larger thread diameter.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of an adapter having a cylindrical skirt and designed for use with spark plugs where it is desired to have the abrasive blast nearer the axis of the spark plug or in plugs of smaller thread diameter.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a casing used primarily as a support for the component parts of the cleaner and support for the abrasive container. The casing is preferably made of sheet metal, plastic, or the like, and consists of a cylindrical wall 8 to which an elevated bottom 9 is secured. Above the bottom, the casing is provided with air discharge ports Ill.

A pipe H for introducing air under pressure into the apparatus, extends through the wall and is connected to the lower end of a blast nozzle l2; shown in detail in Fig. 2. The lower end portion of this nozzle assembly projects downwardly through a central hole in the bottom 9, and is clamped thereto by a nut l3, having threaded engagement with the nozzle assembly. As shown in Fig. 1, the base M of the nozzle assembly has a centrally disposed vertical bore [5 into which the vertical air tube is extends with a press, screw, brazed, soldered, or similar fit, and the bore communicates with the pipe H by means of a small orifice H, by which the high pressure air delivered to the cleaner has its pressure reduced to give proper cleaning action.

An abrasive conducting tube I8 surrounds tube I6 and has its lower end extending into base M with a press, screw, brazed, soldered, or similar fit, and the base is provided with radially disposed apertures 19, through which abrasive may enter the annular passageway 20 between the two tubes.

As will be seen from Fig. 2 an air discharge nozzle 2i has threaded engagement with the top portion of the air tube so that it may be replaced, when necessary, and a cleaning blast nozzle 22 surrounds the nozzle 2! and sits in a recess 23 at the top of tube [8, where it is held by vacuum acting on the inner surface of the nozzle 22.

An abrasive container is arranged Within the casing and it consists of a substantially funnelshaped bottom 24, designed to flow the abrasive material towards openings l9, clamped to the bottom 9 of the casing by means of the base i4, and the part 24 is connected to the lower end of a tubular cloth bag 25 by a removable clamp 25.

., The upper end of the bag is anchored by means of a ring or collar 27 to the interior of the top of the wall 8 by means of screws 28.

The open top of the casing is closed by a cover 29, the skirt of which is extended in the form of an annular tray 30, provided with apertures 3| for the support of adapters 32, hereinafter described.

The central portion of the cover inclines toward one side thereof and is provided with an aperture for the reception of a bushing 33. Such bushing may be separate from or be made as a part of the cover, if desired. -In either event, it is provided with a half. internal cylinder surface 34 and a half conical surface 35, to accommodate the adapters 32. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each adapter preferably consists of a ring of rubber or the like, provided with an internal ferrule 36, designed to receive a spark plug.

The adapter shown in Fig. 5 has a ferrule of a size to accommodate a large diameter spark plug and, therefore, its skirt has an external frustoconical surface 31 to coact with the surface 35 of the bushing 33. Consequently, when this adapter is used, it will place the axis of the plug further away from the abrasive blast than when the adapter in Fig. 6 is used. The latter adapter is employed with spark plugs of smaller diameter and it has an external cylindrical surface 33 adapted to coact with the cylindrical surface 34 of the bushing. When the adapter shown in Fig. 6 is used, it brings the axis of the smaller plug closer to the center of the abrasive blast than the larger plug. In other words, the center of the conical adapter will be further away from the center of the abrasive blast than the center of the cylindrical adapter. By using such adapter each spark plug will be broughtto the correct position automatically for the most efficient cleaning of the same. Regardless of the type of adapter used with the bushing, there will be an air-tight seal between the adapter and bushing to prevent abrasive travelling through the top of the casing.

As heretofore mentioned, the shelf or tray 30 is designed to hold additional rubber adapters and plugs to be cleaned, as well as plugs that have been cleaned, so as not to mix or confuse prodnets with other plugs and materials on the bench where the cleaner may be placed.

The device is completed by an eye shield 39, supported by a bracket 40 extending from the cover 29, to protect the eyes of the operator.

In the use of the apparatus, an abrasive compound is poured into the bag 25 to a position about half-way tothe top of the bag. Then the operator selects a proper adapter 32 for the plug to be cleaned, and after placing the plug therein, he arranges the adapter in the bushing 33 with the electrode end of the plug downwardly. The adapter selected will place the plug in proper position for most efficient cleaning, and as the air to the pipe ii may be controlled by the foot of the operator, both hands are free to turn the plug and adapter slowly about the axis of the nozzle 12. Due to the inclination of the central portion of the top 29, it is obvious that the axis of the plug will always be at an angle to the axis of the nozzle [2, and as the air reaches the venturi formed by the nozzles 2| and 22, suction is created within passageway 20. Consequently,

the abrasive compound is drawn upwardly through this passageway mixed with the compressed air from the nozzle 2|, and is blasted against the shell hole and insulator of the plug.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention may be readily understood, and it is manifest that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spark plug cleaner comprising a blast nozzle, a bushing arranged obliquely to the nozzle and surrounding the axis thereof, said bushing being provided internally with a parti-cylindrical and a parti-conical surface, whereby the bushing may form a sealing contact with an adapter having either a cylindrical surface or a frustoconical surface.

2. In a structure of the character described, a bearing member having parti-oylindrical and parti-conical internal bearing surfaces arranged to locate spark plug supporting members having cylindrical or conical portions, eccentric to one another.

3. A spark plug cleaner, comprising a blast nozzle, a plug supporting element arranged obliquely to the nozzle and surrounding the axis thereof, said element defining an opening pro" vided internally with a parti-cylindrical and a parti-conical surface, whereby said element may form a sealing contact with an adapter having either a cylindrical surface or a frusto-conical surface.

4. A spark plug cleaner, comprising a casing having a tubular wall and an elevated bottom, a substantially funnel-shaped element arranged in the casing and resting on the bottom, a blast nozzle comprising an outer abrasive compound tube and an inner air tube spaced coaxially therein with its lower extremity extending below that of saidabrasive compound tube, a base member for said nozzle having coaxial openings arranged to receive the lower ends of said respective tubes, said base extending through said funnel-shaped element and bottom, means for clamping the base to the bottom and for securing said element in stationary position, and a porous bag suspended at its upper end from the top portion of said casing with its lower end secured to the top portion of said element. I

ALEXANDER J. BATTEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,421,001 Hagen June 27, 1922 2,009,589 Pedersen July 30, 1935 2,018,741 Rabezzana Oct. 29, 1935 2,277,911 Johnson Mar. 31, 1942 2,304,956 Rabezzana r Dec. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 752,590 France July 24., 1933 

